Travel from Madrid to Foncebadón to Sarria

[IzzyFerrari]

We will be beginning our pilgrimage from Sarria but would like to visit the Iron Cross before doing so. Our flight arrives in Madrid and we were hoping to rent a car in Madrid to drive to Foncebadon then drop off in Lugo. Unfortunately, the car rental office will not be open when we would arrive and so we could not just drop the car off. Has anyone travelled by train/bus from Madrid to Foncebadon then to Sarria? Is that a realistic/doable day trip? Any recommendations you can offer? Thank you

 

[Tincatinker]

In a day, no.

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Madrid/Foncebadón gives info on the first stage, https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Foncebadón/Sarria on the second. Add in the walk up to and down from the Cruz.

If you are really determined to do this you may have to hang-out in Lugo till you can drop off your hire car.

Happy planning

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you find a train or bus in Foncebadon, you will be the first!!

Taxi from Astorga is possible, then take it to Ponferrada. You can take a bus from there to Lugo, then Sarria.

 

[whariwharangi]

There are no public transport options to Foncebedon other than a bus that runs once each way, once per week.

More than half the fun will have to be derived from travel to Cruz de Ferro. Its not worth the trip if your only purpose is sight-seeing; its just a pile of rocks covered with sentimental litter left by pilgrims. Remember, the cairn is a marker indicating the height of land, the truly 'devout' derive satisfaction from the walk up the long hill from Astorga.

If you are determined ... take Renfe train to Ponferrada and rent a car for the day. Then take ALSA bus from Ponferrada to Lugo and Monbus from Lugo to Sarria.

My recommendation is; go to Sarria and start walking.

 

[Kanga]

It is not worth it. Really. The worthwhile part, as others have said, is walking.

 

[SYates]

Hi and welcome to the forum! Only you can decide if a visit to the Cruz de Ferro is worthwhile for you or not. As others have said, getting to Foncebadon and back again by public transport isn't really an option. I would stay with your original plan and simply spend your waiting time in Lugo with visiting the roman town walls, the cathedral etc. Alternatively you could check if you can drop your rental car in Sarria itself.
Buen Camino, SY